MIDC banks on private agencies to fund land acquisition for Purandar airport

Pune: MIDC plans to raise nearly Rs3,500 crore through private agencies to acquire proposed greenfield airport project’s 2,753 hectares of land from seven villages in Purandar tehsil, notified on March 10 as part of a 2,823-hectare industrial zone under the MIDC Act.
A senior state industries department official said on Saturday an additional 70 hectares would be acquired from the forest department, taking the total area for the proposed airport to 2,823 hectares. “We will approach financial institutions to fund the land acquisition for the project, expected to cost Rs3,000 crore to Rs3,500 crore,” said the official.
Joint secretary of industries department S L Pulkundwar issued the latest 180-page industrial zone notification marking out the survey numbers of all the seven villages. The industry zone for this area has been declared from March 7. It assumes significance considering the state government’s plan to develop an international airport at Purandar, delayed by over six years.
The March 10 notification bars any land deals or transfer of ownership in the notified area. The local administration would communicate it to the property registration department, said a source.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told TOI, “We have fast-tracked this (airport) project as assured in the January meeting. MIDC will execute the land acquisition with its funds and the entire process is expected to be completed in a year. The project is on track. As discussed, the DPR (detailed project report) will be ready too.”
An elaborate process of hearing suggestions and objections from the residents of the seven villages — Vanpuri, Kumbharvalan, Udhachiwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjavadi, Khanvadi and Pargaon — and other stakeholders would be held before a final notification and compensation was declared to acquire the land, the senior official of the industries department said.
Pune district collector Jitendra Dudy will implement the acquisition process as per established procedures through the land acquisition officials. “We are hoping to complete this process and declare the compensation by early next year so that the work for the proposed airport can start sometime after May 2026,” another industries department official said.
Following the initial land acquisition notice, the district administration is expected to appoint nodal officers for all these villages to serve notices to the landholders of the survey numbers mentioned in the notification. After getting suggestions and objections to the project, the final compensation would be issued under Section 32 of the MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) Act. It is likely early next year.
The Vimantal Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti is cut up with the industrial zone notification. “We will organise protests against surrendering our irrigated lands because we are not sure about MIDC’s commitment to provide fair compensation. Their history with several projects was a dampener. There is no question of giving up our land. We will put forth the same to the state govt,” said Jitendra Memane of the Samiti.
The notification was a surprise for most members of the Vimantal Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, considering that there was no mention of the Purandar project in deputy CM and finance minister Ajit Pawar’s state budget tabled on March 10.
Union minister of state for civil aviation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol, who was a part of a series of meetings to push the Purandar airport project, told TOI on Saturday, “MIDC has agreed to fund the initial land acquisition. Then we will see how the state will contribute.”
He said the notification would take forward the government’s intent for the mega infra project to better Pune’s connectivity. “Pune and its surroundings are developing rapidly. The number of air passengers and air traffic is increasing. Against this backdrop, the current airport of Pune is well-equipped with modern amenities. Still, considering the future of Pune city, Purandar airport is needed,” said Mohol.
HL: KEY STEPS FORWARD
Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) was initially appointed the special planning authority (SPA) for the project
MIDC has now been appointed as the nodal authority of the project because it can speed up the land acquisition process
MADC will have to cancel its 2018 notification as there cannot be two SPAs for a project
The urban development department is expected to cancel the notification
IN FOCUS
Land will be be acquired from seven villages
They are Vanpuri, Kumbharvalan, Udhachiwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjavadi, Khanvadi, Pargaon
2,832 hectares will have to be acquired for the proposed greenfield airport project in Purandar
1,800 hectares required for the airport
1,032 hectares would be used for ancillaries in the area


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